The Everlasting Rose picks up where The Belles left off with Camille running from Sophia’s guards while attempting to restore Princess Charlotte to the throne. What weighs this book down is the amount of running around from Sophia. The first half of the plot was slower than the second half (or last quarter of the book).

Just like in The Belles, we see Belles using their powers (oftentimes forced), which can go too far into a dark place. I enjoyed seeing Camille’s growth with her abilities from the last book.

I’m surprised that there isn’t a 3rd book in the works. This story doesn’t feel wrapped up. Overall, the cover and writing are absolutely beautiful. The characters fell flat and I struggled to relate to them.

This was a solid and entertaining follow-up and conclusion to The Belles duology. I devoured the first book and was really happy to be able to dive straight into this one.

The world building and the “magic” system were spot on. The progression of it in book two was really well done. Clayton builds beautifully on what was laid down in the first and introduces new quirkiness. I especially love the little snippets of newspaper articles/titles. A few indiscriminate lines scattered throughout the story, but they reveal so much about Orleans and never failed to make me smile. It feels very unique and easy to immerse into.

As I commented with the first book, for a plot that centres around beauty, this is impressively deeper than that. It is a premise that translates to being both wildly entertaining and disturbingly dark on several levels. Camille is a fantastic main character to helm this story, and I found it easy to get into her head and get in touch with her motives and fears. Compared to the first book, there is an awful lot of travelling and running around from island to island, and yet it was actually quite intense and thrilling.

What lost a star for me was the ending. For a series ending it felt rushed and rather half-assed. I thought there were a lot of loose ends left and relationships that were just pushed aside and abandoned. It left me with a bit of a sour taste in my mouth because it just didn't feel finished.

Tiny note: I think I'm the only one who hates that cover. The brown shades turn me off so much, especially after the fun pink that was book one.

Imagine a world where we are all look exactly the same....gray skin tone, white, gray hair, same bone structure. In steps the Belles, the coveted ones who can sculpt you into anything you want to be, but at a painful price. Now step into the Belles shoes and think what it would be like to be sought out by thousands of people. You are a Belle, the only one who can make people beautiful, desirable! At what cost? Is beauty really in the eye of the beholder?

To understand everything that's happened, you will need to read the first book in this series, and trust me, it will truly captivate you! This book grabbed me because all Belles grow up understanding that they are taught nothing but to be picked up like a rose is to be plucked up in the garden. Why? Because they are to give beauty treatments to the rich, the ones who live in grand castles to always make them beautiful. Only on the outside, their hearts can't truly be changed.

Jump forward to the second book and we can see how much the Belles sacrifice and sadly how some may give their lives in the process. Who and why? That I can't tell, you must read this book to find out! I do hope there will be more in this series, the ending does leave you thinking this, so I can hope!

This book shows me that we truly put way too much emphasis on beauty. We need to value our hearts, our souls. To quit teaching our children that our skin, our makeup is what makes us beautiful. How we truly shine is our kindness, our smiles, our souls shining out with the love inside. That's what truly matters.

Although I had several issues with The Belles, I was genuinely excited for The Everlasting Rose after the first book's abrupt ending. However, I was kind of disappointed by the sequel.

Worldbuilding- This book is set in a futuristic New Orleans based world featuring people who can alter other people's looks in a society that revolves around beauty. I don't know if it was just me, but this world reminded me of the Capitol from the Hunger Games with its frivolity and extravagance. While this world was fascinating and such a unique setting, it is never fully developed. We only get backstory when the plot needs it to make sense. That is not to say that I didn't enjoy the setting but it felt as if this world was lacking substance.

Characters- The characters were my least favorite part of this book. In The Belles, I wasn't fond of Camile at all. I was hoping for some development and a fleshed out character arc but alas, I absolutely despised Camile by the end of The Everlasting Rose. She's so foolish, obnoxious, and just so bland. I was surprised that she wasn't killed or captured at any point of this book because of the naive choices she makes that basically endanger everyone around her. She's also way too easy to like- she has no major internal conflict and always wants to do the right thing and in my opinion, this makes her fall flat characterwise. Additionally, I didn't like the romance between Remy and Camille- as in the first book, there is no chemistry and feels very forced.

Also, I wanted Sophia, the villain to be more developed. I was intrigued by her motives and wanted to be so much more than just an evil tyrannical ruler bent on controlling the world but alas it is what it is. I liked rooting for the villain as much as the protagonist (sometimes even more than I should) but I honestly didn't care for either of them and thus, I wasn't very invested in either of them.

Plot- The plot felt very scattered and the pacing was extremely choppy. In the first 3/4 of the books, it's so slow and mostly focuses on Camille running around and trying to overthrow Sophia. I was so bored for the first 3/4 of this book because there isn't enough conflict and suspense in this book. The sides are literally "good" vs "bad" with no moral shades of gray to make it complex and interesting. The book takes so much time building up for the ending but the ending is so rushed and left me unsatisfied. I hope there is a sequel because there is much unfinished business.

Writing Style- Despite not enjoying much of this book, I did enjoy Clayton's writing style with its lush descriptions and vivid imagery. Beautifully written and I appreciated that it wasn't as purple-prosed as The Belles.

Overall, I wasn't mindblown by this book because I wanted more conflict and character development but I wish I had enjoyed it as much as the first book. However, I'm still open to reading more from this author (please let there be a third Belles book).

*Thank you to NetGalley and its publishers for providing a free ARC*

The Everlasting Rose is the sequel to The Belles which I really enjoyed when I read it. Mostly because I really like Rémy (he reminds me of Kaldur from Young Justice). I do feel like some parts of this book were lacking because there was so much build up to the climax of the story and not much pay off. While I enjoyed the overall journey to getting there, the climax fell short for me. Also, this includes one of my least favorite romantic tropes, so if you’re not a fan of two love interests getting split up for majority of the book, be aware of that before going in.

**3.5 stars**

"We can't expect one person -- or even two -- to take the entire burden of resisting on their shoulders. We all have to stand up and say no."

The evil Princess Sophia is set to rise to the throne. She claims her sister, Charlotte, is dead. She has sinister plans in mind for all the Belles and the future of beauty work throughout Orleans.

Camellia, the once favorite, is on the run. Forced to flee the kingdom, she now finds herself on the outside looking in. Pairing up with some old favorites from Book 1, including handsome savior, Remy, Camellia begins to set her sights on taking Sophia down. The task is made more difficult however since Sophia wants her found, making her the 'most wanted' person in all the land.

Discovering an underground movement of rebels also planning to revolutionize the kingdom, Camellia finds a place were she feels she can be of good use. But can she trust them?

This book picks up directly where Book 1 leaves off. There is a lot more action in the plot as the world has already been built for you. However, although their is more action, I still felt the pacing was a bit off for me.

There were times I was really enjoy it and was speeding along and other times where I had to force myself to pick it up. Clayton's writing feels lovely to me. Each word she chooses seems to add beauty to the text but at the same time, things can seem very one dimensional.

I liked the scifi bits that were sprinkled through here. The way the Belles are 'grown' and Sophia's plans for them seemed something more out of a dystopian novel than a fantasy. I did enjoy those elements and personally, I wish there had been a bit more of them.

I know that may seem a bit of a weird little tangent but I couldn't help but wish those ideas would have been expanded upon more. The origin of the Belles. We heard the mythological tale of where they came from but how much of that was true?

I did also enjoy the commentary about standing up to old-fashioned systems that need to be changed. Systems that take advantage of, literally USE, some individuals for the sheer pleasure of the better off within the society. This was an interesting examination of the concept of beauty and the negative effects of societal emphasis on beauty.

The Everlasting Rose leaves off in a very interesting place. Is there going to be another book? I would definitely be interesting in continuing on in the this world. The events that take place at the end of this leaves a lot to be explored. I am crossing my fingers for a Book 3!!!

Thank you so much to the publisher, Disney Book Group, for providing me with a copy to read and review. As always, I appreciate the opportunity and look forward to hearing other reader's thoughts on this one!

What a sequel to a unique story! Everlasting Rose delivers on the promises set up in the first book. The only complaint I have is the storyline with Auguste seems a little out of place for where the book was heading.

At first, I was not liking the story. It was so slow and there were glitches in the story that almost made me not finish. Then it happened, and I was hooked! I love the Belles and the whole world. It is amazing how you can turn something sonknowing into something so magical! I just with the first part of the book held the magic the second part had.

Disclaimer: I received the earc from Netgalley and the finished book from Rockstar Book Tours and Freeform. Thanks! All opinions are my own.

Book Series: Book Two of The Belles

Rating: 2/5

Publication Date: March 5, 2019

Genre: YA Fantasy

Recommended Age: 16+ (suicide TW, slavery imagery, violence, slight gore)

Publisher: Freeform

Pages: 352

Amazon Link

Synopsis: In this sequel to the instant New York Times bestseller, Camille, her sister Edel, and her guard and new love Remy must race against time to find Princess Charlotte. Sophia's Imperial forces will stop at nothing to keep the rebels from returning Charlotte to the castle and her rightful place as queen. With the help of an underground resistance movement called The Iron Ladies-a society that rejects beauty treatments entirely-and the backing of alternative newspaper The Spider's Web, Camille uses her powers, her connections and her cunning to outwit her greatest nemesis, Sophia, and restore peace to Orleans.

Review: Okay so for the most part this book is really gorgeous. The writing, the cover, the artwork for the map. Everything is absolutely worthy of The Belles. The book also has really great imagery about slavery and equality and I can see where an English teacher like a decade from now would use this series for their English class. However, I do have some issues with this book.

The book begins and there’s no easing into the book. Usually a sequel will have some sort of in-book synopsis or explanation of the previous book’s events. So, I would definitely recommend reading this back to back with the first book. The book is really confusing otherwise and I struggled to remember all of the people and places and events that happened in the first book while reading this one. The character also had a name change I think. I thought her name was Camellia in the first book, but now it’s Camille? Or am I having a Mandella Effect? The side characters are very underdeveloped and unmentionable. I can’t connect with anyone in this book and the MC feels totally different. I’m so confused over the ending and I feel like there are a lot of plot holes in this book. This book feels like a different story overall. The first book was amazing and fantastic. I loved it and it was definitely one of my faves from 2018, but this one feels rushed and incomplete. I feel like it needed more time to develop and possibly a different course of action for the main. I also feel like the book would have benefited from being a trilogy instead where the story could have been slowed down and better thought out. Right now, the book feels like a first draft instead of a final draft.

Verdict: Read this if you need some sort of closure from the first book.

This was a satisfying end to The Belles series - supposedly a duology, although the epilogue did suggest a continuation of the story or maybe even a spin-off.

The action picks up right where The Belles left off, so I would say that this is not the type of book where you can pick up anywhere in the series - you would definitely need to read the first book first. I think that book 1 was actually a little stronger than The Everlasting Rose, although as I said, still a satisfying ending.

The trademarks of The Belles remained - sharp critiques of a society obsessed with beauty, feminine power, and heart-pounding tension. Like the first book, it is incredibly readable, and is the type of book you can easily devour in an afternoon. I appreciate Clayton's approach to the YA genre - like other YA, this series is a quick read, and not too difficult to comprehend, but I find her characters to be much more bearable and mature than the typical angsty teens. There is also a romantic relationship, but it thankfully does not take over the plot like in other YA.

If you read and enjoyed The Belles, then you will not want to miss the finale of that story. And if you enjoy diverse and unique fantasy that isn't too dense or heady, then give the series a try. I would also strongly recommend this series to female teen readers.

This is my second Dhionelle book and I would have to say the writing is absolutely beautiful. She has a way with describing scenes in such detail. The Everlasting Rose is a sequel to the NYT bestseller The Belles, and it picks up right where The Belles left off, which I really LOVED!! The sequel is a bit different from book one. It did take me a while to get into it…. but overall I found it was just as dark/evil as the first, and peppered with the right amount of beauty and romance! Thank you NetGalley and Disney Book Group Freeform for the free e-book in exchange for an honest review.

The Everlasting Rose, like The Belles, is America's Next Top Model meets Hunger Games.
Only one week since her escape from the palace, Camille's life has changed drastically. Once an innocent bud, she has been forced to grow into a mature flower. Everlasting Rose, the highly anticipated sequel to The Belles, still contains mysterious, intriguing characters and interactions, but in an action plot. Camille is now openly on the run, rather than deceptively rebelling.
Clayton's delicious descriptions, such as "the letters rise on the black parchment like drizzles of cream in hot chocolate," and "soft beams of moonlight sweep along the ocean as the left eye of the God of the Sky rises," have me licking my lips for more of the decadent, magical setting.
The many lingering questions: where is Princess Charlotte, who are the Iron Ladies, drove me from page to page. The pace especially picks up 2/3rds into the book.
Above all, amidst the anticipation and refuge lies cleverly wrapped metaphors of society's shallowness, materialism and insatiability.
I thorougly enjoyed reading this modern YA fairytale.

Thank you so much for the ARC!

I absolutely loved The Belles. I loved the feel of the book. I loved the story message, and I loved the characters. So, why did The Everlasting Rose feel like a completely different story?

The Belles was super unique and a little unpredictable. I enjoyed how the story tried to show that appearances aren’t everything, and I loved that the main character fought to prove that beauty isn’t just skin deep. The Everlasting Rose just didn’t quite live up to it’s predecessor. It had hints of that beloved message, and some of Camellia’s original personality that I loved and found so fierce, but it mainly just felt lost. Also, did anyone else notice that her name was Camellia in book 1, and Camille in this book?

Anyway. I wanted to know how everything ended. I wanted to see Camellia (Camille?) succeed in her mission. I was ready for a revolution. I was ready for darkness and a power struggle, but it all just seemed too easy and predictable.

I guess I just felt disappointed when I finished this. Even the ending felt a little too easy to be satisfying. I mean, I loved the writing. Both books had beautiful writing. I loved the world of The Belles. I still felt like everything was detailed and vivid, and so unique, but this book just kind of felt like a quick afterthought to wrap up the story when compared to book 1.

I finished it in one day, so, obviously the writing was enough to keep me going. I loved book 1 so much, I knew I needed to see it through to the end. I just wish I had loved The Everlasting Rose like I loved The Belles. I’d rate it 2.5-3 stars, but I’d definitely still read anything new from the author.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with this free e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

In this conclusion to The Belles duology we explore more of the kingdom as Camilla scrambles to stay hidden from the powerful forces that want to enslave her and her sisters. With time running out she must find allies and a way to stop a tyrant from taking over Orleans. Her love for her sisters and her determination to help them was really sweet. Camillas bravery and ability to gather allies was inspiring. I enjoyed the cute slow burn romance and how it didnt take away from the main plot. We also get to spend more time with Edel who was one of my favorite sisters from the first book. Sadly her attitude in this one rubbed me the wrong way. I did love seeing her tailor again and his role in this sequel.

The pace was a little slow, but being on the run with the threat of being discovered added a nice amount of tension to the story. I missed the layer of mystery we had in the first book, but I liked knowing more about the Belles and their origin. Seeing the Belles use their powers in different ways was a lot of fun. I love the vivid and opulent world but it didnt feel as magical as the first book. Im still not sure how post balloons work, but its still a pretty cool invention. One of my favorites parts of the world besides the Belles powers was the adorable tea cup dragons. I just couldnt get enough of them. I felt like the writing wasnt as overly detailed as the first book, but it still had that enchanting quality to it.

I thought the themes of beauty were amazing but they werent mentionned as much in this sequel. We also get themes of slavery and how thinking of people as others can be super damaging. The ending wasnt as satisfying as I was hoping it would be considering how blown away I was at the end of the first book. I still love the antagonist, but I just felt like things resolved themselves too easily without any lead up to it. On the other hand I wasnt able to see it coming since it came out of nowhere. The very end is left open so there wasnt much statisfaction from that. I didnt mind it too much since I do enjoy envision my own ending for the characters. Overall I still really enjoyed it. Im a sucker for glamourous and creative world building and this had plenty of it.

This book was 😱😱 so, sooooo good onfg. Pick this up asap and read it because you won’t be disappointed!!!

Camille has escaped from evil Sophia's clutches, but the princess has captured her Belle sisters and is building a prison that will house a monstrous creche of slave Belles to cater to the demands for more beauty.

I think this is one of those, it's not you, it's me books.

I enjoyed the first one, with the decadence overlaid and supported by an unseen/purposefully ignored slave system of magic users and was really anticipating where this book would go. How would the system be dismantled? Where did the Belles come from? What else would be revealed.

I wasn't underwhelmed or overwhelmed by this sequel, I was just...whelmed.

It was enjoyable and had a good ending, but I found myself skimming through it to get to the end, swishing my eyes over the macarons and teacup everything to get to the meat and potatoes—more revelations of the "secondary" Belles, more screen time, more explanation of what it meant to be Gris, more action, more explanation of Sophie and her rapid transition to authoritarian power.

But I felt like most of this book was Camille, Edel, Remy and Amber somehow managing to escape detection from the most incompetent city guard on the planet while flitting from innhouse to innhouse wearing flimsy masks, with the last 20% crammed into the final showdown.

I think that a lot of readers will enjoy this final (?) installment in the Belles duology (?), but it didn't capture my attention as much as I would have liked.

I received this ARC from NetGalley for an honest review.

It’s Tuesday and that means new books coming out today! I posted my new releases for March list over the weekend and this book is definitely on that list (you can visit the list to see the other titles). But last year I finally checked out the Belles on audiobook and I got hooked so fast. I listened to it so quickly and so avidly, I could not stop. I wanted to know everything about the world and Camille and her sisters. So once the book ended I naturally hit Goodreads to try to see what was next and found out there would be a sequel and soon! I was then even luckier because I received an ARC from the publisher of the second book and almost immediately had to devour it! I have been waiting for release day to share this review with you all. So let’s get to it!

SPOILERS AHEAD
This book picks right back up with Camille needing to stop Sophia and her forces and the only real way to put a stop to her is to find her sister Princess Charlotte. In the first book, Princess Charlotte was deeply ill and unable to rule or really do anything. Camille however, found out the truth but now Princess Charlotte is gone. If Camille and her sisters can find her it would stop Sophia from ruling (and that totally needs to be done because Sophia is straight up evil). If you read Belles we all remember her cruelty, it is literally stuck in my head and I would even go as far as to say Sophia is worse than Cardan from Cruel Prince.

Camille cannot stop Sophia alone, she has way to much power and influence so Camille gets help not only from her sisters but also from some new friends (the Iron Ladies). I have to say I really loved the Iron Ladies, I thought they were such an intriguing group and I would love to see more of them anytime! I do not want to spoil the ending and say weather Camille can stop Sophia or if they find Princess Charlotte. I will say I really enjoyed this follow up to the Belles and our new friends. This sequel definitely kept me riveted just like the Belles did. The only thing I would change would be I want to see more of the Belles and learn more about them and the Iron Ladies (but I feel like that is just me and my intrigue). I am giving this book five stars on Goodreads and if you have not already go try the Belles (you will not regret it).

P.S. If this ever became a movie it would be so beautiful, these covers are drop dead gorgeous.

****This is not a paid review! I just really am thankful and love this book!

Thank you to Partner Netgalley for my advance copy of this novel. I loved The Belles and was so excited to read the sequel, The Everlasting Rose. Set in the dystopian world of Orléans , this novel reveals the way that quests for beauty and power can spiral out of control as the quest to become the most beautiful and most powerful gets in the way of compassion, equity, and all forms of understanding.

The Belles opens in a world where most people are born gris, meaning that their natural complexion is gray, with red eyes, straw-like hair, and gray whiskers on their faces. This condition is both unattractive and painful. The only exception to this natural state is the Belles, who are born lovely with all different complexions, shapes, and demeanors, but who are all able to use the power within their blood to help others beautify themselves. The Belles are raised to beautify others, and when they come of age, that becomes their duty. In order to avoid this natural but uncomfortable state of being gray, the citizens of Orléans must have routine beauty procedures done, which can only be performed by the Belles. They pay high prices and suffer extreme pain to endure the beauty procedures. Camille Beauregard and her sisters are coming of age at the beginning of The Belles, and they become the group of Belles able to assist all of the people of Orléans, including the royal family, with these procedures. However, as Camille gets deeper into her journey, she quickly realizes that the world is not as it seems and that her talents can be misused and can cause harm.

The Everlasting Rose picks up where The Belles left off, and it captivates the reader immediately. I loved the main characters in the novel and found myself swept up in their riveting adventure, rooting for them to succeed, even though they were facing staggering odds. Camellia Beauregard leads us through the complex world of the royal family as Princess Sophia makes her way toward the throne. Camille discovers that she has powers she did not realize she possessed, but she also realizes that she can be forced and manipulated into doing things that are horrendous. Her unlikely companion, Rémy, and her sister Edel, are both fascinating supporting characters with their own agendas and desires. Additionally, the teacup dragons who travel with them are so precious and fun!

I love the way Clayton demonstrates the power of suggestion, the pressure to fit in, and the role of gossip and the media in what shapes society. I also love her commentary on the way that subliminal messages and peer pressure can lead us all to feel that there is some kind of artificial beauty ideal that we should achieve-- and that the pursuit of that false ideal can destroy us or cause us to destroy others.

Camille's courage, determination, loyalty, and resolute unwillingness to back down make her the kind of woman I hope to be and hope for my daughters to be. She is ready to bring about change, and she faces the uncertain future with resilience and passion.

​In short, I cannot wait for Book Three!

I was a HUGE fan of Clayton's first book in the Orleans series, The Belles, and very excited to receive an ARC for the second installment. The prose did not disappoint! The overt luxuriousness of this fantasy world is mirrored in the beauty of the writing itself and I lost myself in so many descriptions, which is odd for me as settings and details are usually less interesting to me. I appreciate the fact that this beauty is juxtaposed against the harsh brutality of life and the incessant pursuit of beauty above all else. Clayton's commentary is so well-done; it's very easy for insights into our own world to be overkill in fiction but it's handled with a deft, expert hand here.

I was overall happy with the characters and their development. I would've liked to have seen a little more development in Camille as the protagonist but I can't help but like her feisty, angry side as the world works against her. Plus, she really does lose a lot in this book so I think where she ends as a character is a good fit. I was happy to see Clayton sidestep the love triangle element; both Remy and Auguste can be interesting characters without them being juxtaposed against one another. There's also a wonderful villain in Sophia; she's quite horrifying.

This book doesn't shy away from the darkness of violence; there's more death in this book than in The Belles but it suits the story. A revolution truly is happening and that means people will die. It would've been easier for Clayton to take the safe way and keep everyone alive for the sake of fan service but she didn't and it made the story stronger.

It was very hard to put this book down as literally at every turn something is not working out for Camille. My only criticism is that parts of the book felt rushed. In my opinion, The Everlasting Rose could have been two books to give it room for more character development and plot depth. I won't detail it in my review to avoid spoilers but there was definitely a point in the plot that would have made a good break point between two books and I was a bit surprised that it wasn't. The timeline of the story could easily have been lengthened, giving events a more significant weight than when they are piled together. (I'm very aware that this could have been a publishing decision though and I'm inclined to think that it is personally.)

That being said, this duology is my favorite in YA fantasy right now, as it was after I finished The Belles in 2017. There's a lot to learn in this story about beauty and social constructs and I love the representation across race and orientation. There's a solid villain, a good redemption, and a satisfying end. I would LOVE to see a third installment in the future.

Note: I received a free Kindle edition of this book via NetGalley in exchange for the honest review above. I would like to thank NetGalley, the publisher Disney Book Group, and the author Dhonielle Clayton for the opportunity to do so.

I loved the belles and this was even better,like so much better,and I didn't think it could been possible.

I love the characters and the world is so interesting !